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Monday, December 28, 2009

We have a star on our team again!Fest artist Robin Maria Pedrero was a winner at the Gallery at Avalon Island 5th annual Artists Registry.com Members Juried Exhibit.Her entry was her oil painting "Of Things Seen and Unseen",sponsored by XOXO Media Group/Donna Dowless.

She won an "Honorable Mention" - including a $50 cash prize!!!More than 90 artists participated, and the exhibit is open December 17th through January 15th, 2010. The Gallery at Avalon Island is located at 39 S. Magnolia Ave. , in downtown Orlando at the corner of Magnolia and Pine.

Monday, December 21, 2009

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

....and St. Augustine is a beautiful place to be this time of the year! You can book a romantic bed and breakfast in our historical downtown district (or a hotel within walking distance of downtown), park your car and never use it again until you are ready to leave! On your first evening you can enjoy a yummy dinner at one of the many restaurants that are in the downtown area, then take a walk to the Plaza de la Constitucion where our world renowned Christmas Lights are unforgettable! ( up until the end of January)Take a walk down along the bay front and enjoy the sea breeze and the beautifully lighted and decorated historic buildings, have a cocktail at one of the taverns, some sangria at the Tapas bar, or something special at the Tini Martini bar...

In the morning after breakfast there are many choices available for your day downtown: take a Ferryboat to attend a tour of our famous Fort Matanzas,

visit the Spanish Colony market and the Oldest Wooden school house, and enjoy some holiday shopping along the cobble stone streets. Take a jolly trolley ride through town, visit the Lightner's Museum

and our GORGEOUS Flagler College for a tour.

How about the Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum?

Staying another night? Don't miss out on one of the many ghost tours that are available in the evenings or take a ride on our famous Pirate Ship! arrrgggghh!

Who are you?I'm Brandi, I get to do all the fun things, such as fabric & supply purchasing, pre washing, cutting...ect. Dorothy is my mother(or is it I'm her daughter, hehe) she has the 35 years experience as a seamstress and can put together the 'things' we come up with. I'm always telling her 'think outside the box'.

What do you create?We make aprons,with a retro feel,totes and bags. The blackberry pouch and the beer bottle/water bottle cozy are our most unique items and are also quickly becoming our most popular items. The blackberry pouch with key fob is the most practical pouch/purse I've ever used!

What is your favorite feature on Etsy?I like the shop local feature, also the forums.

What other interests do you have?Horses! Quilting has also caught my fancy. Look for some quilts at B Doodles in the future.Where in Florida do you live?I live in Crystal River (Citrus County). I have lived here my entire life. The diverse outdoor activities is without a doubt why I love 'home', swimming with the manatees, air boating in the saw grass flats, hiking in the Withlacoochee State Forest, or biking the Rails to Trails, there is so much to do! (I don't remember there being so much to do here when I was a teenager, LOL).

What animal would you like to be for one day and why?dolphin- they are so free

What “super” power would you like to have and why?one that can get things done lightening fast!

Is there someplace near your home you wold recommend to your readers?Canoeing the Withlacochee River

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

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We are an AMAZING Team, with some MAD Crafting Skills!!!!Can you guess the artist or shop BEFORE you follow the picture link?Vote for your favorite in the poll on the left side bar.Remember the winner gets her mini on the blog and a feature article in February!

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Boo! Are you still in the Halloween spirit? NO?! Okay so Christmas is exactly 2 weeks away and we're just now celebrating our October Team Challenge winner, Creative Art Center... I'm not afraid to admit I'm totally overwhelmed during this time of year!

The Creative Art Center won the challenge with a super spooooky Halloween hat sculpted from clay. During this holiday season, the Creative Art Center has adorable Christmas decorations and jewelry that would be the perfect gift for the women on your list! Sarah, the talent behind this FEST shop, is experienced in working with lots of different mediums, but is focusing on polymer clay for her current collection.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

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Meet Amy of Radiance Art:Who are you?--I'm Amy (AKA RadianceArt). I'm an Air Force wife with a small business making custom stained glass of all sizes. I also have an unnatural addiction to gooey mac n cheese, and want to someday write a novel and learn Chinese.The big news right now: we expecting our first baby (a girl!) very soon!

What do you create?--Mostly I do stained glass. I love to experiment with different techniques and approaches, and, through my subject matter, breathe new life into this old art form. Stained glass isn't just for churches anymore!Although my ideas tend to bounce around, I consider most of my work to have a 'fantasy surf art' vibe to it, with a few wacky items here and there. I love using color!

What is your favorite feature on Etsy?--Being an information junkie, I love that the answer to almost any question I have is just a few clicks away. There are so many seasoned folks and are more than happy to share their knowledge and experiences and help you out.

What other interests do you have?--In addition to glasswork, I love to work with all mediums of art. (Incidentally, my college major was in wheel-thrown pottery and sculpture. Getting into stained glass was an accident!)I also love to read, cook, crochet, swim, and play geeky games with my husband.

Where in Florida do you live, and what do you love about it?--I moved to the Cocoa Beach area just 2 weeks before the first hurricane in 2004. I love all the little things about living in a tropical area (palm trees still make me smile), but I think my favorite thing is living by the ocean again and seeing all of Nature's moods in the waves.

What would you recommend as a fun activity near your Fl home that other members might enjoy.--Surfing, of course! You don't even have to be good at it to have fun (trust me)!

What animal would you like to be for one day and why?--Totally would be a crocodile, because they are awesome creatures. Don't mind me, I'm just a log floating in the water...What “super” power would you like to have and why?--I like the super photographic memory power. To be able to see or read something, then instantly be able to do it. I'd learn every language on the planet, then start reading the operations manuals to everything.

Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?--So many ideas for this one, but I think I'd be too scared of messing up some space/time continuum to do much. Doc Brown and Captain Picard taught me well.Maybe I could get away with going back and inventing the bendy straw or something. Would having a million dollars really destroy the fabric of the universe that much?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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This month our Blog Giveaway is sponsored by Terry of
ArtsyCharmed&Quirkyof Coral Springs, Florida. Terry makes fabulous eclectic jewelry, handmade pendants, quirky charms and unique and wonderful Pincushion dolls.Her giveaway is a "Zesty Butterfly" Domino Pendant. A splash of "Hot" jewel tones is complimented with a "charming" silver butterfly and matching beads. This is a 1 x 2 inch handmade domino pendant that is 18 inches long and secures with a lobster claw clasp.

Perfect for Holiday giving or to pamper YOURSELF!

Enter to win this fabulous Pendant by visiting the ArstyCharmed&QuirkyShop or any of the FEST Team members listed to the left on this page. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address so we can contact you if you are the Winner!

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The winner of the "FEAST" challenge was Cory of AquarianBath with her Pumpkin Poppy Seed Soap - sounds so Yummy! Probably not very effective to wash out the mouths of fresh children! Just kidding....Cory recently had a feature article about her here on the blog so she wins, instead,............her etsy mini on the blog for a month!!! Very cool right?Well Cory is a winner in more ways than one. She is newly pregnant - so congrats to her about that excitement .....ANDshe created a FEST grab a badge for us which can be found on the right side bar. Paste the code into a java widget on your blog or website and you have a link to our Fabulous FEST Blog!!!Thanks so much Cory!